Our Team

Kristine J. Schwarz, MA, MFT, LPCC

Executive Director

Kristine Schwarz is a seasoned executive and psychotherapist who brings extensive experience building organizations and managing multi-faceted projects in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, and considerable experience as an educator and clinician.

Kristine is also a former entertainment industry executive with 13 years of experience developing film and television projects internationally. She received her MA from Antioch University Santa Barbara and has worked locally as a therapist at Domestic Violence Solutions, the COPE program at Cottage Hospital, Full Spectrum Recovery, Goleta Valley Union School District, and Working Alternatives. She maintains her psychotherapy private practice, Santa Barbara Psychotherapy.

Prior to joining New Beginnings, Kristine was Associate Director of Institutional Advancement at Antioch University Santa Barbara.  She also served as Core Faculty and Clinical Director of Antioch’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Program where she founded the MFT Consortium of the Central Coast Region, and served as the Central Coast Chair of the MFT Leadership Collaborative and Chair of Antioch’s Alumni Association Steering Committee.

Kristine began her career as a media buyer in Washington, D.C., working with clients such as the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts, before moving to Los Angeles in 1987, when she joined the Walt Disney Studios. She received her undergraduate degree in Marketing and Advertising from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Crystal Ramirez, PhD, MFT

Clinical Director (On Leave)

Crystal Ramirez has a wide variety of clinical, supervisory, and management experience in the community, most recently from the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness, where she worked as Regional Manager, Team Supervisor of CARES South, and Practitioner on the Homeless Outreach and Justice Alliance teams.

Dr. Ramirez has also served as a Clinical Supervisor at the Salvation Army, worked as the Assistant Manager of Mountain House at Crescend (formerly Phoenix), and been a lead counselor and Children’s Program Clinical Coordinator at Domestic Violence Solutions.

Dr. Ramirez holds a Marriage and Family Therapy license and has a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology from UC Santa Barbara; a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica; and a Doctorate in Depth Psychology with Emphasis in Psychotherapy from Pacifica. Her dissertation research focused on the subjective experiences of people with psychotic disorders and has been presented at professional conferences internationally and domestically.

Priya Ramesh

Administrative Assistant

Priya Ramesh is the Administrative Assistant at New Beginnings. She attended UC Santa Barbara and received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Applied Psychology. Priya has experience advocating for victims of interpersonal violence and mentoring at-risk youth. She is passionate about mental health and assisting marginalized communities. Priya hopes to attend graduate school and become a licensed therapist.

Victoria Garfield

Grants Administration Director

vgarfield@nullsbnbcc.org
(805) 963-7777 x120

Victoria Garfield is a San Diego native that graduated in 2016 from UC Santa Barbara with degrees in History and Comparative Literature, and has been with New Beginnings since 2017. Victoria served as our Operations Manager for over three years before transitioning to a remote position in Phoenix, AZ as our Grants and Compliance Manager. Currently, Victoria works as our Grants Administration Director and oversees our government and foundation grants while also overseeing administrative operations and compliance in conjunction with our Executive Director. Prior to working at New Beginnings, Victoria worked as an Office Manager at a local accounting firm. She has also worked previously as an independent bookkeeper, copy editor, and publishing assistant, and has experience teaching Chess in Santa Barbara Elementary Schools.

Shabina Dalidd

Operations Manager

sdalidd@nullsbnbcc.org
(805) 963-7777 ext. 111

Shabina Dalidd is our Operations Manager and has ten years of experience in operations and logistics, having previously worked as the Director of Operations at a scrapbooking company in Orange County. Shabina moved to Santa Barbara three years ago and also traveled the world with her husband for a year. Shabina graduated from the University of California, Irvine with degrees in Psychology and Social Behavior. She has also worked as a Preschool Teacher and as a Personal Assistant. In her free time, Shabina enjoys traveling, bread making, reading, completing puzzles, and cooking.

Victor Virgen

Veteran Services Director

vvirgen@nullsbnbcc.org
(805) 963-7777 ext. 115

Victor Virgen was raised in the Santa Ynez Valley and after graduating high school went on to serve eight years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, Victor served three tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom — as a Motor Transportation Diesel Mechanic in 2004, with Combat Logistics Regiment-15 in the Al Anbar Province, and with Third Battalion Fifth Marine Regiment in 2006 in Fallujah. During his last tour, Victor served as Combat Advisor on a Point of Entry Transition Team at the Jordan and Iraq point of entry where he helped train the Iraqi Police, Security Forces, and Customs Police.

As a veteran, Victor attended California State University, Channel Islands to receive his bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Shortly after, Victor was hired by New Beginnings Counseling Center as the North County Case Manager for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program, helping homeless veterans move into permanent and stable housing. He also worked with veterans who were at risk of becoming homeless to prevent them from being on the streets or entering a shelter. Victor is now the Program Manager for SSVF, providing support for the SSVF Case Managers and our veteran clients. Victor currently serves as a board member for the new up-and-coming Santa Barbara County Veterans Collaborative, as well as Santa Ynez Valley’s American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 180. Victor and his wife Julie have plans on one day create nonprofit of their own that serves veterans in Santa Barbara County.

Cassie Roach, MSW

Safe Parking Program Manager

croach@nullsbnbcc.org
(805) 963-7777

Cassie Roach is the Program Manager and Lead Case Manager for our Safe Parking Program. She has worked at New Beginnings for more than five years and manages a team of Case Managers and Housing Navigators. Cassie is very passionate about working with the homeless population and volunteers her time with Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine. Cassie graduated UC Santa Barbara in 2015, double majoring in Biopsychology and Religious Studies.

Shana Burns, MFT

Clinical Director

sburns@nullsbnbcc.org

(805) 963-7777 ext. 155

Shana Burns is the Clinical Director at New Beginnings. Shana brings a range of clinical, administrative, and management experience to the position, most recently serving as the Forensics Manager for the County of Santa Barbara’s Department of Behavioral Wellness. Prior to that, Shana served as a Regional Manager for the department, overseeing mental health outpatient clinics in northern Santa Barbara County.

Burns is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 17 years of psychotherapy experience and 15 years of leadership experience. Burns’ therapeutic specializations include serving adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, trauma, relationships issues and legal/justice involvement. She maintains her own private practice as well. Prior to working for the County of Santa Barbara, Burns was an Administrator for Telecare Corporation in Ventura, Program Director for Bonita House, a residential treatment program based in Berkeley, and the Assistant Director for Sharper Future in the Bay Area, where she supervised a team of forensic psychologists and psychotherapists. Burns received her M.A. in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and her B.A. in English Literature from the University of Iowa.

Linnea Haskett

Development and Community Relations

development@nullsbnbcc.org

(805) 963-7777 ext. 122

Linnea Haskett joined New Beginnings as the Community Engagement and Development Manager in March of 2024. She is a Pasadena, California native, and lived in her home town up until she transitioned to Santa Cruz to attend UCSC. She earned a B.A. in Clinical Psychology with Dean’s List Honors, and since graduating, has worked in both non-profit and for-profit, mental health treatment centers in Santa Barbara.

Linnea moved out of the treatment center world in 2022, and was hired as the Director of Life Enrichment at a senior living community in Santa Barbara. She oversaw both the Life Enrichment staff and the Fitness and Aquatic Center and its staff, and organized the social and physical calendars for Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. Linnea grew adept at speaking in front of large crowds, organizing large events, community outreach, marketing, and more.

At New Beginnings, Linnea looks forward to using her eye for detail, her compassion and enthusiasm, and a deep desire to form new, meaningful relationships with those in Santa Barbara County.

Cassie Roach

Safe Parking Program Director

croach@nullsbnbcc.org

(805) 963-7777 

Mehul Prajapati

Finance Manager

mprajapati@nullsbnbcc.org

(805) 963-7777 ext. 111

Mehul holds an Associate of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from India. As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Mehul thrives on keeping business accounting neat and orderly. With over 5 years of accounting experience, Mehul has been a valuable part of NBCC since 2022. As our Finance Manager, Mehul oversees accounts receivable, accounts payable, and various other accounting tasks. In addition to working with NBCC, Mehul is also an independent bookkeeper. Mehul takes pride in the details and loves supporting NBCC.

Kaitlyn Barriere

Intake Coordinator

kbarriere@nullsbnbcc.org

Kaitlyn Barriere is the Clinic Intake Coordinator at New Beginnings Counseling Center. She brings a range of administrative and clinical experience to the program, with a background in suicide, self-harm, and psychosis risk syndromes. Kaitlyn has prior non-profit experience, working at an early psychosis center in Orange County and a sexual trauma recovery center in Southern Kentucky.

Kaitlyn received her MA in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University and her BS in Psychological Sciences with a Clinical Psychology concentration from Western Kentucky University.

She hopes to become a licensed therapist and open her own practice serving the community in Santa Barbara County.

Brenda Lang

Operations Director

blang@nullsbnbcc.org

Brenda Lang is the Operations Director for New Beginnings. Brenda joined New Beginnings in the summer of 2022 as Office Manager. Brenda is delighted to operationally support the New Beginnings team that does so much for our community. Brenda previously worked in non-profit animal welfare and prior to that owned a dog care facility in Chicago, IL for ten years where she learned the ins and outs of operating a small business with fifteen employees. She started her career at Merrill Lynch in the Chicago Board of Trade working within the private client group’s management and compliance team before shifting to venture capital where she provided executive support to the Managing Director.

Brenda grew up in Iowa and graduated with a B.A. in Communication Studies and Sociology with a focus on business, labor and the economy from the University of Iowa. Brenda has been an animal welfare activist for the past twenty years and has lobbied for increased legislation and more compassionate laws relating to animal welfare. She is a board member for Cage to Couch and previously served on the board of other animal rescue organizations. Brenda served on the THRIVE committee in her Chicago neighborhood connecting homeless individuals to available resources.

Brenda is also a student at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles and is working towards a degree in Plant-Based Culinary Arts and Food Operations.

Diane Black

Operations Manager

dblack@nullsbnbcc.org

Diane Black is the Operations Manager at New Beginnings since November 2021.  She is a graduate of Antioch University, Santa Barbara with MA Organizational Management degree.  She worked in Banking in CA as well as GA as a Specialized Lender.  She was the Director of a Career College in Atlanta GA and Huntsville AL.  She moved to Portland Oregon in 2014 and worked in the Financial Services Industry as a Financial Advisor and then as a Health Insurance Broker for several national corporations. 

Diane moved back to Santa Barbara to be closer to her family and enjoys road cycling and ocean kayaking.

Joel Goforth

Homeless Services Director

Prior to his position with New Beginnings Joel served as the Housing Programs Director at PATH Santa Barbara. Joel received his Masters in Psychology from Antioch University and received a postgraduate degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from the University of California Santa Barbara. In addition to his experience at Path, Joel has held leadership positions with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, United Way of Santa Barbara County and served on the Advisory Board at First Five. Joel brings 20 years of non-profit experience with a deep commitment to serving marginalized and disadvantaged populations.

Joel is a native of Santa Barbara and a local Dive Master. He has a teenage daughter who is a gymnast. When not at work, Joel is either diving our ocean and introducing people to our local underwater treasures or cheering his daughter on at a gymnastic meet. Joel is excited to be part of the New Beginnings Team and to have a meaningful impact on the lives of the people New Beginnings serves.